CONSULATION /ANALYSIS

Menopause and Hair Loss
Menopausal women experience a number of challenging issues -- from hot flashes and weight gain to vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence. And then on top of it all, there's hair loss. Thinning hair or hair loss during menopause is more common than you may think. Some studies indicate that hormonal hair loss is an issue for more than 50% of menopausal women.

Why menopausal women experience hair loss
As a woman goes through menopause, her estrogen levels drop causing an imbalance between her estrogen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is one of the hormones that keep hair growing on your scalp and other parts of the body. When the estrogen and DHT levels get out of balance, hair shedding and thinning can occur.
If you are suffering from thinning hair and other menopausal issues, your doctor may recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Though HRT can be beneficial to some women, it's not without risks. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting or stopping any medication.

Bioidentical hormone therapy
Bioidentical hormone therapy is also often prescribed to treat menopause as well. This term refers to medications containing estrogen, progesterone or other hormones that are duplicates (identical) to the hormones naturally produced by women. These hormones are available in the many approved, tested brand name drugs; always consult with your doctor before starting any hormone therapy.

The effect of diet
A change of diet, regular exercise, stress reduction and other alternative methods may be as beneficial as HRT or bioidentical hormone therapy for some women — without the risks.

If you are menopausal, a nutritionist may recommend adding estrogen–rich foods to your diet and decreasing your consumption of foods that are known to inhibit estrogen. Fruits such as apples, cherries, pomegranates and plums increase estrogen, while citrus fruits, berries, melons and pineapple are generally considered estrogen inhibitors. Other estrogen-rich foods include a number of vegetables (beets, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and yams), grains (barley, oats, rice and wheat) and beans (chickpeas, red beans, soybeans and split peas). Various herbs, seeds and spices also can increase estrogen.

Broccoli, cabbage, corn, onion and squash can inhibit estrogen, as can white rice and white flour. Talk to a dietician or nutrition that is well versed in estrogen-producing foods to get more comprehensive diet recommendations if you are menopausal or pre–menopausal.

Over-the–counter creams and other treatments
When women enter menopause, they endure a hormonal imbalance — mostly related to a deficiency of progesterone. Over-the-counter progesterone cream can gently increase progesterone levels and also curb menopausal symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, hot flashes, insomnia and mood swings. Though progesterone cream can be effective for some women, it will not be a viable treatment for everyone. The levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in the body work together to create total wellness.
Consider all your options, both traditional and alternative, to help you cope with menopause and its issues including hair loss.

Hair loss solutions
No matter the reason for your hair loss, you have a variety of hair loss solutions at your disposal. Whether you opt for low laser hair therapy, other hair loss treatments or simply a wig, you have options. As soon as you begin to notice hair loss, make an appointment with our trichologist. The Hair Management Group partners with other medical professionals, diagnostic laboratories and nutritionists, locally, nationally and internationally, to help determine the cause of your hair loss and assist you in developing a customized treatment plan.